To Understand Understanding

Understanding is one of the most sought after states of human existence, and in Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Interpreter of Maladies” understanding becomes the story’s driving goal for Mr. Kapasi and Mrs. Das, characters who are both trapped in loveless marriages where the integral connection of faith and understanding has been lost. Within the story the multiple facets of the word ‘understanding’ are merged into one, and in such an all-encompassing frame Mrs. Das reaches a new state of self realization within the context of her family. Understanding is therefore a transformative experience in which the self attains a new state within the personal human experience.

At the beginning of the story, the only form of the word ‘understanding’ with which Mr. Kapasi is familiar is that used in the context of language. As an interpreter he has developed a view of the term that connotes translation and everyday physicality; the pains and problems of the doctor’s patients are presented to him to be understood and to be translated for the doctor to understand. Within his unfeeling marriage, there is no understanding in the spiritual or emotional sense between him and his wife; Mr. Kapasi has never experienced true understanding in this regard and therefore is “flattered” when Mrs. Das expresses an interest in his work that leads to a conversation establishing a level of understanding between the two lonely individuals. In response Mr. Kapasi develops another sense of the word in which the connection between a woman whom he now considers his friend entails the understanding with which two good friends could talk about their mutual interests and problems. This onset is underscored by Mr. Kapasi’s description of the sensation as similar to that of the moment in which he would finally read the words of a passage that he had translated, and through such feelings the meanings of understanding are linked. The recognition Mrs. Das grants to her tour guide begins a discourse that leads not only to Mr. Kapasi’s feeling of attachment, but also to a conversation that enables the interpreter to bring the lost Mrs. Das into a new sense of understanding.

Mrs. Das undoubtedly understands the metaphysical connotations of understanding, for she explains to Mr. Kapasi the origin of the connection between her and her husband and the supposed emotional attachment behind it. However, the strength of that connection wore away as Mrs. Das realized the loneliness of being locked in a marriage where all one can do is take care of the kids and tend to the home. With no good friends to talk to and the initial passionate love for her husband gone, Mrs. Das experiences a complete lack of conversational understanding which drives her to seek the help of Mr. Kapasi, the interpreter who overcomes barriers in language and therefore must be able to overcome barriers in the self. She searches for one who could show her understanding and “say the right thing” in response to her confession, yet finds one who instead offers her the chance to unconsciously re-understand herself. Mr. Kapasi perceives the position in which Mrs. Das is trapped, for he recognizes her as a woman “who had already fallen out of love with life,” yet he can only offer her the simple question of physical pain versus guilt. This is not the reply that Mrs. Das was looking for; however, such an unsatisfying response makes her leave Mr. Kapasi’s company and join her family. By doing so she sets into motion the harassment of her illegitimate son by monkeys, which unites the family for the first time in the text around the defense of one of their own.

At the end of the story, Mr. Kapasi views the Das family as one would want to view any family: together. Mrs. Das’ attempt at soliciting his understanding creates the opportunity in which she can overcome her guilt and start again by taking a more caring and proactive role within her family; the opportunity to do so was presented by Mr. Kapasi’s multiple views of understanding in which perception of physical pain and emotional distress are connected. By showing such a level of understanding, Mr. Kapasi gave Mrs. Das the chance at a truly transformative experience for the individual.

How does the title “Interpreter of Maladies” relate to the conclusion of the story?

To what extent is Mr. Kapasi one who has “fallen out of love with life”?

To what extent is the story about culture?

What is the difference between pain and guilt?